All posts tagged gay rights

Czech President Milos Zeman Wednesday gave up his opposition to conferring the title of professor to a local historian who’s gay, ending nearly a week of protests by local students, other professors and politicians amid concerns over their academic and civic freedoms.

Independent university accreditation councils had earlier agreed that Martin Putna had earned a professorship. Last week the President ignored the decision—-something that has never happened before in modern Czech history. Adding insult to injury, he initially refused to provide any explanation for his decision except to say that a public declaration of his reasoning would embarrass Mr. Putna.

Only later did he let it be known he disliked Mr. Putna’s social activism for gay rights.

The refusal incurred a raft of criticism from figures such as the right-leaning Prime Minister, head of the country’s largest left-leaning opposition party and a Catholic Cardinal.

Mr. Zeman said that although he continues to dislike Mr. Putna he won’t block him from becoming a professor. However, Mr. Zeman asked the country’s education minister to bestow the title.

Mr. Putna said he would accept the title from the minister and added that while his personal battle has been won, the larger battle for civic and academic freedom in the post-communist country is far from over. Read More »

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